Six designers from the School of Design and Environment have been honoured with the President’s Design Awards 2013. The highest accolades in Singapore bestowed on designers and design projects, the awards recognise the achievements and contributions of Singapore designers who are making a difference to the lives of Singaporeans and that of the larger global community.

Administered by the DesignSingapore Council of the Ministry of Communications and Information, together with the Urban Redevelopment Authority, the awards comprise two categories – “Designer of the Year” and “Design of the Year”. The recipients were presented with the awards by Singapore President Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam at a ceremony held at the Istana on 3 December 2013.

Mr Patrick Chia, the Director of Design Incubation Centre and Creative Director of d.lab at NUS was a Designer of the Year winner. The Founding Director of the Centre has shaped the design incubator into one of the most progressive design laboratories in Asia Pacific. Under his direction, the Centre has conducted design research and investigations into new tools and processes that explore and expand new possibilities for the design practice in Singapore.

Another recipient of the Designer of the Year was Mr Richard K F Ho, Principal Architect of RichardHO Architects and an Adjunct Associate Professor at NUS’ Department of Architecture. He has displayed great sensitivity to the history, culture and climate of sites and places, creating architecture that resonates with those who use spaces, and rekindle memories of the past. He is also an active and exemplary mentor who has devoted himself to teaching and cultivating the next generation of architects and as advisor to young designers.

An architecture graduate from NUS was the third winner of the Designer of the Year. Mr Yip Yuen Hong, a founding partner of ip:li architects, was lauded for his pragmatic yet inventive approach to Singapore’s tropical climate and sustainable lifestyle. Besides being an inspiration in creating an expression of local identity, he has been dedicated in supporting architectural education.

The Giving Spotlight

SDE Greater Good Series – The Secret to Developing Good Class Bungalows

Mr George Lim (right) and A/Prof Wong Yunn Chii, Head of Department of Architecture (left).

Mr George Lim, a private developer in Good Class Bungalows (GCB), shared personal stories of his life journey from building his own car with parts bought from scrap market in 1970s, to how he started developing his first GCBs in 2005 to a group of students during a recent SDE Greater Good Series dialogue session.

Mr Lim Ting Li Nicholas, Year 3 Real Estate student, said “Mr Lim has given me greater insight into the challenges faced on the ground.” Inspired by Mr Lim’s entrepreneurial mind, Year 3 Architecture student Mr Tan Chin Hwa Joel said, “The session reaffirmed my belief that our education can only prepare us for our first step into the working world but it is our character that determines how successful we can be.”

The SDE GGS features talks by leading minds by thought leaders on design, development and management of the built environment which will improve quality of life and lead to greater good for the society at large. The series is made possible thanks to a generous gift from Newsman Realty Pte Ltd.

Against a backdrop of key environmental issues, trends and policy developments, Dr. Bindu N. Lohani, Vice President, Knowledge Management and Sustainable Development of Asian Development Bank, shared the recent progress in Asia and the Pacific including key innovations, drivers and experiences in promoting sustainable infrastructure, investments in natural capital and good governance. It was followed by a Q&A session moderated by Professor Tommy Koh, Ambassador-at-Large.

The Asia Environment Lecture series is jointly hosted by MSc (Environmental Management) Programme, Bachelor in Environmental Studies Programme, Asia-Pacific Centre for Environmental Law of Faculty of Law, and National Environment Agency's Singapore Environment Institute. The lecture is generously supported by a gift from Mr Heinrich Jessen, Chairman of Jebsen and Jessen.

K H Tan Scholarship & Bursary Sharing Session

Mr K H Tan, Managing Director of Newsman Realty Pte Ltd and donor of K H Tan Scholarship and K H Tan Bursary, shared his professional and personal experiences and the spirit of giving during a recent meeting with the scholarship and bursary recipients.

Social Innovation – Design for Society

Work from the Social Innovation – Design for Society project was exhibited at NUS Central Library Lobby.

Twenty-four students from the Division of Industrial Design came together to address safe drinking water issues in Qinghai Province in China and tackle water challenges in urban Singapore. They demonstrated how industrial design could meet social needs of all kinds, in order to benefit people, society and environment.

The project, led by Visiting Senior Fellow Ms Luisa Mok, was run in collaboration with a non-governmental organization, One Earth Designs, and generously supported by a gift from Dow Chemical Pacific (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. Special thanks were also given to Sustainable Development Water Alliance for their advice on water treatment.